Swift pleased to rejoin a winning team

29 December 2016

Midfielder glad to be back after Canaries return

Royals midfielder John Swift made his first appearance since the start of November when he returned from the bench against Norwich – and he was pleased to be coming back into a side that is sitting pretty in the league table.

Reading are third in the table at the half-way stage with a win against the Canaries; the Royals won four of the six fixtures which he missed.

It was an innocuous injury which he picked up whilst on international duty for England’s Under-21 side against Italy at St Mary’s. But he’s feeling ready to contribute again in the second half of the campaign.

“Every player knows that as soon as you get injured, you have to sit in the physio room to do your training – but it’s a learning curve, and every player goes through it,” said Swift.

“It’s the second time that it’s happened to me on international duty – and it’s quite annoying because I felt that I was doing alright in that game as well! But to be out for so long and to come back when the team is playing like this is great.

“I was out and the team kept winning – it shows how strong this team is. I’m just really glad to be back.

“All the players are buzzing, and I hope the fans are as well. I don’t think anyone expected us to be in this position at this time, for us and the fans – and for the manager in his first season – to be up and fighting in the top six is a great position.”